“I’m A Little Teapot” is a great example. The teapot is talking, describing itself and giving itself human qualities.

When done correctly, it can create some great imagery and symbolism. It’s a way to take the familiar for someone and transform the scene so they feel an emotional connection to it or what’s going on.

So why do some songs that are supposed to be serious make you laugh when they use personification?

There are HUGE dangers associated with personification!

Think about it – trees laughing? Who ever sees that – you’re asking your listener to imagine it and tie it to what you’re talking about in your lyrics. So if you’re talking about an intimate moment between two people and the trees are laughing in unison with their happiness . . .

#1 Danger – Comic images in your listener’s head.

One of the hardest things to do is a whole song that personifies something.

The analogies become more strained – often because the comparisons are limited – but it can be done!

In its simplest form, this is a song about a guitar crying, but, it’s really being used as a metaphor for the songwriting process and how the events in the world are tied to everything – even a guitar.

David Wilcox “Rusty Old American Dream”

Is a song written from the perspective of a rusted out Oldsmobile. Note the mid-song capo change if you’re a guitar player (it’s in Open C tuning).

The song’s a metaphor for the progression of life and a life cyle we can all relate to on a couple levels. Great object to select for the metaphor and the personification!

Mary Chapin Carpenter “I Am A Town”

This is one of the best personification songs ever written. It’s from the town’s perspective, and every single image, analogy and emotional tie to a small town is spot on. This is one of my favorite songs.

And if I’m being totally honest, ahead of “The House That Built Me” in terms of imagery and song craft in my book. A great song to study.